Stand-off socket



7 y 1952 A. c. PETERS 3,034,086

STAND-OFF SOCKET Filed Nov. 25, 1958 F 3 36 37 3O -/-H FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR C. PETERS BY J ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,034,086 TAND-GFF SGQKET Arthur C. Peters, Midlothian, Iii, assignor to United-Gari- Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,333 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-17) This invention relates to a socket structure, and more particularly to a tube socket especially useful with printed circuit panels, and which defines a spaced relationship between the socket casting and panel.

Tube sockets having snap-in contacts, and which in turn snap into a printed wire panel, are desirable because of the simplification and cost savings realized in the corresponding assembly operations. However, it is diflicult to provide a structural composition that attains the desired degree of simplicity in the assembly of the components thereof, and which at the same time is inexpensive and provides the rigidity necessary to resist deformation in such assembly operations and during subsequent placement and removal of tubes from the socket. It is, accordingly, anobject of this invention to provide a socket that achieves these desirable results.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a tube socket having snap-in contacts, each of which comprises a pin-receiving socket and a stabilizer integrally formed through the medium of a connector strap, and in which the stabilizer is provided with a snap lock which automatically anchors the contact in position within the casting. Still another object is in providing a socket of the character described, in which the stabilizer at one end thereof is adapted to be inserted through an opening therefor in a printed wire panel, and at the other end thereof is equipped with a snap lock, whereupon the stabilizer is anchored at each end and is effective through the connector strap to constrain the socket portion of the contact in proper alignment within the passage therefor to facilitate insertion and removal of a tube prong therefrom and to establish a good electrical connection therewith.

A further object is to provide a soc et of the type described, comprising a casting having paired inner and outer openings interconnected by a channel extending therebetween, and a contact having socket and stabilizer sections, respectively received Within the inner and outer openings, and which are integrally joined by a connector strap that seats within the channelsuch connector strap having an elongated leg that extends outwardly from the casting and is equipped with a tab which spaces the casting from the printed wire panel on which it is mounted, and which may be laterally turned to implement the anchorage of the contact in the socket casting. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a socket casting having one contact mounted therein, and is taken generally along the line 11 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view ofthe. structure illustrated in FIGURE 1, and which is taken generally along the line 22 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 3 is a side view in elevation of a socket casting completely equipped with contacts, and is taken generally along the line 33 of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 44- of FIGURE 1, but includes also a side elevational view of the remaining portion of the casting and shows the same in relation to a printed wire panel; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one of the contacts.

The socket comprises a casting having a plurality 3,034,085 Patented May S, 1962 "ice of openings or passages extending therethrough arranged in radially aligned pairs, each comprising an inner opening 11 and an outer opening 12 connected by a channel or slot 13. The inner openings 11 and outer openings 12 lie in concentrically oriented rows with respect to the axis of the casting. Mounted within each of the paired openings and channel therebetween is a contact 14. The precise number of openings in any embodiment of the invention will depend upon the tube or electron discharge device for which the socket is intended. In the specific illustration, there are seven pairs of openings, but an example of another common type of socket is the one for use with a nine-prong tube. The casting may be formed of any conventional dielectric material now commonly in use.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be seen that the casting 10 is provided with a laterally extending annular flange 15 along the upper surface thereof, and that the openings 12 lie for the most part within the flange but adjacent the depending central body portion 16 of the casting. The openings 11, however, are spaced inwardly from the flange 15 and lie entirely within the central body portion 16. The longitudinal axes of the paired openings are substantially parallel, and in turn are oriented in parallel relationship with the axis of the casting which is also the axis of a central opening 17 through the body portion 16, and which is intended to receive a ground pin (not shown). Generally, a ground clip is associated with such ground pin, and to accommodate the same the body 16 may be recessed, as shown at 18 in FIGURE 2, and may also be provided with an aperture 19 to permit such ground clip and center pin to be riveted to the casting.

The socket may be used in conjunction with a printed wire panel 20 (as shown in FIGURE 4) which will be provided with a plurality of openings or apertures 21 therethrough, respectively aligned with the passages 12 in the casting to pass therethrough the lead-in or bifurcated end 22 of the contact 14 aligned therewith. It will be noted that each such end of the contacts is provided with an outwardly extending nipple or protuberance 23 adapted to engage the undersurface of the panel 20 to anchor the casting and contacts thereof in position thereon. The lead-in end 22 forms a portion of the stabilizer element 24 of the contact which extends into the opening 12. The stabilizer 24 has a curvilinear cross section, and is generallytubular at each end thereof as shown in FIG- URE 5. The lead-in end 22 is provided with a laterally turned portion 25 that defines a capillary stop which prevents solder from rising thereabove in a dip soldering operation in which the end 22 is connected with a printed conductor provided by the panel 20.

The opposite end 26 of the stabilizer 2 4 has a slot 260 running axially thereof. Material adjacent the slot 26a is cut away, as shown at 27, and is flared outwardly along the edge 28 thereof to form a resilient projection or snap lock element that is adapted to seat Within the counter-bore 29 of a passage 12 along the underside of the flange 15, as seen in FIGURE 4. The snap lock or projection 23 abuts the casting within the area of the counter-bore, and thereby prevents axial movement or withdrawal of the stabilizer 24 and contact 14 which comprises the same.

Formed integrally with the stabilizer element 24 is a strap or connector 3% which is also formed integrally with the pin socket 31 of the contact. The pin socket 31 has a generally tubular configuration and is positioned within the inner passage 11 in the casting, and is adapted to receive therein one of the pins of a tube (not shown). In order to make a good electrical connection with such pin, the socket is restricted as shown at 32, and is split along longitudinal lines 33 which affords a degree of resilience 3 therefor. Consequently, when a tube pin is inserted thereinto, the restricted portion of the socket can expand slightly to accommodate the same, and at the same time establishes a tight frictional connection therewith. At its lower end, the passage 11 has a restricted cross section as shown at 34-,and merges with the remaining length of the passage through an inclined section 35.

The strap or connector 39 has a downwardly extending leg 36 which terminates in an ear or tab 37 positioned below the central body 16 of the casting. The tab and lower edge of the leg 36 function asan abutment element which limits movement of the casting 1i} toward the upper surface'of the panel 2% when the lead-in ends 22 of the stabilizers are pressed through the openings therefor in a Y the panel. Thus, they serve as the gap stop or stand-off that defines the space 37a between the casting and panel.

' If desired, each of the tabs 37 may be bent laterally after placement of the contacts within the casting, and willthen tively paired passages 11 and 12 therefor in the casting 1t each contact is located so that the socket portion 31 thereof is alignedrwith the passage 11 therefor, the stabilizer 24'is aligned with the passage 12, and the connector 3i) aligned with the channel 13 extending between such passages. The contact in its entirety is then pressed downwardly, or toward the left as viewed in FIGURE '4, until the snap lock 28 thereof seats within the counterbore 2? of the passage 12. This interlock then prevents withdrawal or movement of the contact in the opposite axial direction with respect to the casting and passages 11 and 12 thereof. At substantially the same time that the snap lock seats within the counter-bore, the lower edge of the socket 31 abuts the shoulder defined'by the inclined section 35 of the passage 11, whereupon further openings therefor in the casting, the socket may then be mounted on the printed wire panel by aligning the stabilizers 24 and more particularly the lead-in ends 22 thereof with the respective openings 21 in the panel. The casting is then pressed downwardly toward the panel to force the lead-in ends 22 through the openings therefor whereupon the casting is locked to the panel by the protuberances 2-3 which abut the underside thereof and the tabs 37 which abut the upper side thereof. At the same time the tabs 37 space the central body portion 16 of the'casting from the panel 20 so that air can circulate freely therebetween to prevent the collection of moisture and to dissipate heat which might otherwise be trapped therebetween. V

Each contact '14 which comprises a stabilizer 24, connectorand socket 31 (each of which is integral with the other) provides a substantial mass of metal which is structurally strengthened by the tubular configurations of the stabilizer and socket. Thus, each contact is highly resistive to distortion during the positioning thereof in the casting, and subsequently during assembly of the casting with a printed wire panel and during placement and removal of a tube in the socket. Further, the stabilizer 24 of each contact is fixed at the upper end thereof in the casting and at the lower end thereof in the printed wire panel, whereby it is constrained against twisting or canting. The resistance to movement thus achieved is imparted to the socket 31 through the substantial mass of theconn'ector 30, which then is effective to maintain the socket 31 in proper alignment within the passage 11. While in-the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a socket assembly adapted for use with a prongequipped electron discharge device and adapted also to be mounted on a printedwire panel; a socket casting provided with inner and outer passages therethrough having substantially parallel axes and also provided with a channel :therethrough connecting said passages generally along the plane in which said axes lie; and a contact comprising a prong-receiving socket mounted Within said inner passage, a stabilizer mounted within said outer passage, and a connector strap positioned within said channel and integrally connecting said socket and stabilizer; said stabilizer having an end portion thereof extending beyond said casting for insertion through an opening provided therefor in such printed wire panel and having also a snap lock engaging a surface portion of said casting to prevent withdrawal of said contact therefrom; said connector strap having a leg extending along said stabilizer and outwardly from said casting for abutment with such printed wire panel to positively space said casting therefrom.

2. The assembly of claim 1 in which said outer passage is provided with a counter-bore, and in which said snap lock seats within said counter-bore to effect the interlock with said casting. I

3. The assembly of claim 1 in which said stabilizer at the opposite end portions thereof has a generally tubular configuration to rigidity the same, and in which said connector strap is formed integrally with said stabilizer substantially intermediate the tubular end portions thereof.

4. In a socket assembly adapted for use with a prongequipped electron discharge device and adapted also to be mounted on a printed wire panel; a socket casting provided with inner and outer passages therethrough having substantially parallel axes and also provided with a channel therethrough connecting said passages generally along the plane in which said axes lie; and a contact comprising a prong-receiving socket mounted within said inner passage, a stabilizer mounted within said outer passage, and a connector strap positioned within said channel and integrally connecting said socket and stabilizer; said stabilizer having a generally tubular configuration at the end portions thereof, one of said end portions being positioned within said outer passage and the other thereof extending outwardly beyond said casting for insertion through an opening provided therefor in such printed wire panel and having an outwardly projecting shoulder engageable with the surface of such panel to lock said socket assembly in position thereon; said stabilizer being equipped with an outwardly projecting snap lock intermediate the ends thereof and adjacent an outer surface of said casting for engagement therewith to prevent withdrawal of said contact therefrom; said prong-receiving socket having a generally tubular configuration and being provided with a restricted section intermediate the ends thereof for frictional engagement with such prong to establish an electrical connection therewith; said connector strap having an elongated leg extending along said stabilizer and provided with a laterally projecting tab bendable into misalignment with said channel for engagement with an undersurface of said casting to further constrain said contact against withdrawal from said casting; said tab also being engageable with such printed wire panel to space said casting therefrom;

5. In a socket assembly for use with a prong-equipped electron discharge device and adapted also to be mounted on a printed wire panel; a socket casting provided with concentric series of inner and outer passages therethrough, said passages having substantially parallel axes and also provided with a channel therethrou'gh connecting said passages generally along the plane in which said axes lie; and a contact comprising a prong-receiving socket mounted within said inner passage, a stabilizer mounted within said outer passage, and a connector strap positioned within said channel and integrally connecting said socket and stabilizer, said stabilizer having a portion at one end thereof extending beyond said casting for insertion through an opening provided therefor in such printed wire panel, and a portion at an opposite end of said stabilizer having a resilient element engaging a surface portion of said casting to prevent Withdrawal of said contact therefrom.

6. The assembly of claim 5 in which said opposite end portion is in the form of a tube having a slot extending axially along the length thereof, said tubular portion having a cut out portion adjacent said slot forming a shoulder for resilient engagement with a surface portion of said casting.

7. The assembly of claim 5 in which said opposite end portion is in the form of a tubular portion having a slot extending axially along the length thereof, said tubular portion having a cut out portion adjacent said slot forming a shoulder portion for engagement with a surface of said casting, said shoulder portion being resilient and being flared outwardly for engagement behind a surface of said casting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,829 Suthann Sept. 11, 1951 2,760,176 Del Camp Aug. 21, 1956 2,796,593 Ofierman June 18, 1957 2,814,024 Narozny Nov. 19, 1957 2,861,253 Johainson Nov. 18, 1958 

